For example, anecdotal information in the mid-1980s indicated that groundwaters in the midwest might be widely contaminated by certain herbicides from nonpoint sources, suggesting the need to undertake extensive monitoring and ban many useful agricultural chemicals. The federal scientists took groundwater samples from shallow wells under corn and soybean fields across 12 midwestern states and found none that exceeded health advisory levels for herbicides in drinking water. These results not only calmed unwarranted fears but also saved substantial monitoring costs for the state agencies responsible for protecting public water supplies.
The investigation demonstrated that in many midwestern states herbicide contamination of groundwater is a seasonal problem and that expensive water treatment and monitoring can be reduced greatly for eight months of the year. The investigation also showed that herbicide concentrations in reservoirs remain relatively high throughout the year. States such as Kansas have used this information to target their efforts to control herbicide use in specific high-risk watersheds
Satellite Eyes Land-Use Change
Scientific monitoring, research, and
analysis have recently helped lead to an
unprecedented consensus of all stakeholders
concerning the need to restore the south Florida
ecosystem. The restoration efforts address the
complexity of the system and will require
reconfiguration of canals to return the flow of
water essential to the functioning of the
Everglades ecosystem. Remote sensing tools,
such as those used for land cover and change
detection, are being used to facilitate the
reconfiguration effort. They also will be used to
evaluate the success of management actions by
linking actions conducted upstream to responses
downstream and in the ocean. These efforts are
drawing federal, state, and local stakeholders
together in a united effort to achieve scientifically
sound management practices for south Florida's
unique ecosystem.
Environment and Natural Resources - Table of Contents
Research Successes - Ecosystem Research
Research Successes - Observation & Data Management
Research Successes - Biodiversity
Research Successes - Environmental Technology
Research Successes - Global Change
Research Successes - Natural Disaster Reduction
Research Successes - Environmental Change
Research Successes - Forest Research
Research Successes - Air Quality
Research Successes - Lead Levels
Research Successes - Science Policy Tools
Research Successes - Water Resources
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